RONNY Deila has insisted chief executive Peter Lawwell’s visit to the Celtic dressing room after yesterday’s draw with Ross County did not mean he would be axed before the season ends.
Deila made the comment as Steve Clarke became the latest big name manager to express interest in replacing him.
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There were boos and protests from fans despite a 1-1 draw which meant the club’s fifth successive top flight title could be confirmed as early as next weekend, but the Norwegian called for unity to help them get over the line.
“He [Lawwell] spoke to me, not the players,” said Deila, who announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
“But we talk together all the time. It’s nothing new. It’s not like I’m going to quit tomorrow.
"I’m going to stay here until the end of the season and do everything to get over the line and perform better than we did today.”
Deila said he understood the frustrations of certain supporters – but their actions were detrimental to the team.
“It’s not helping, I can assure you of that,” he said. “You can see it in some of the confidence of the boys.
"But these are the circumstances right now and I can understand the fans. A lot of them have been here for 40 years. I have been here for two.
"But the most important thing is to end the season well, get over the line and make it five in a row for the club.”
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Clarke, meanwhile, said it would be “nice” to speak to the Parkhead board about the possibility of succeeding Deila as manager.
The 52-year-old from Saltcoats, interviewed two years ago prior to the Norwegian’s appointment, has been out of work since December, when he was sacked by Reading just two weeks after rejecting the chance to join Fulham.
Previously assistant at Newcastle United, Chelsea, West Ham United and Liverpool, Clarke also has a period as manager at West Brom on his resume.
“Listen, Celtic’s a massive club,” he said on Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday show.
“Anybody that comes from the west coast of Scotland, as I do, understands the size of the club. Next year will be fantastic with Rangers back in the SPFL, and Aberdeen made a good fist of it this year.
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"With Hearts and hopefully Hibs will come back up through the play-offs in the Championship it can be a really exciting league next year.
"There’s a lot of good managers out of work. It’s a big job ... a great club and if they want to give me a call it would be nice.”
While another reported candidate for the job, Roberto di Matteo, seated alongside him on the couch, kept his counsel, the news came a day after Malky Mackay informed a Sunday newspaper that he feels a record 10 top flight titles in a row is achievable and he would love to discuss his ideas of how it could be done.
“If Celtic wanted to talk to me, I would certainly be keen to do that,” said Mackay. “I think the next five-year period at Celtic is a crucial one.
"A record 10 titles in a row is achievable and a strong focus should be there. I think I could help with that and bring a fresh approach.”
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